Nestled
between stately live oaks, magnolia trees and the timeless Cane River is
the beautiful town of Natchitoches.The oldest settlement in The Louisiana Purchase and the third
oldest town in the United States, Natchitoches was founded in 1714 by
Louis Juchereau de St. Denis, who had been sent by the French governor
of the colony of Louisiana, Pierre LeMoine d’Iberville.Natchitoches became the westernmost outpost of the French
Colonial Empire in the West and was erected to prevent further Spanish
exploration within the colony.

Natchitoches
offers antebellum plantations, fabulous restaurants and a relaxing
atmosphere.See where
the movies Steel Magnolias, The Man In the Moon and The Horse Soldiers
were filmed.Visit Fort St.
Jean Baptiste or The American Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in The
Louisiana Purchase.Enjoy a
day of shopping or take
a leisurely stroll through the National Historic District or along the
banks of the Cane River.

Written
by Payne Williams, a
local historian and owner of the Rusca House, on
behalf of the Joyous Coast Foundation, which details the history of Natchitoches
and shows how its myriad of cultures have blended to create the beauty of
this timeless place.